Robert Gustofson

Dr. G is in a tough spot - it requires him to be frank, but also compassionate. He does not ooze warmth and there are some patients (me included, at least initially) that require that when seeking fertility treatments. But he is honest and forthcoming and always has his patients best interests in mind. I felt like I was in capable hands when we proceeded with treatments.

Dr. G has your best interests in mind and will be truthful when it comes to your care, but he won't sugarcoat anything and won't be the person you lean on emotionally.

Initially, my experience was not favorable. I was 29 and presented with high fsh/low amh, low egg count and quality. He told me very pointedly that he would not do IVF with my own eggs. The delivery was too frank for this type of news and there was very little empathy. It felt like they were unwilling to try because it would greatly impact their statistics in a negative way if it did not work. The impersonal interaction made me take a break from CCRM for several years. When we finally returned to the clinic, we had a conversation with Dr. G about our previous interaction and he immediately changed his tune. Since then, he has been friendly, personable and caring.

It has been 3 years since my last treatment with Dr. G, so I cannot remember specific medications or protocols. But Dr. G had a solid game plan, monitored me closely and always explained in detail if anything needed to change.

The general nursing staff at the Louisville branch (my primary location) was nice, efficient and helpful. Carolyn - my main nurse contact there - was great and answered a lot of frantic questions with compassion. The rest of the nursing staff was fine, not exceptionally warm or friendly, but they did their jobs well. My primary donor nurse, Kristi, was incredible. I cannot say enough good things about her! Throughout the entire process she was patient, personable, friendly, and answered my MANY questions with grace and thoughtfulness. She always went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable and even stepped in to assist with a billing snafu when we were abroad. I felt I could always count on Kristi for anything, and that really put my mind at ease during such a trying, emotional time.

The Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine is a world-renowned fertility clinic for a reason - they provide state-of-the-art treatments, innovative research, and techniques that give them higher success rates than many of their counterparts. The staff is well-trained and things are done very efficiently. However, this often creates a very sterile environment where you feel more like a cog in the wheel than a living, breathing human with a personal story. This is more evident in the extravagant Lonetree location than in smaller, homier Louisville. The other glaringly obvious issue is the business office. For such a larger, profitable organization, they are disorganized and often rude. One example of their ineptitude - they failed to inform us about the due date for a $30,000 payment and then insisted we find a way to pay it within 12 hours when we were on vacation in Italy. There mistake, but ours to fix. I was continually shocked at how many errors and inefficiencies we encountered and they were VERY frustrating given how much we were paying the clinic for our treatments.

Donor IVF cycle (including donor meds and fees and my transfer) totaled approximately $44,000. Additional medications for me were about $4,000. Total for the entire procedure was $48,000.

Because I was otherwise very healthy and since our young donor produced an exceedingly high number of highly graded embryos, Dr. G was very clear about the fact that he would not transfer more than one. He explained that he was very confidant the treatment would be successful and explained the immense risks to me and the babies if I were to carry multiples.

Dr. Gustafson was honest, kind, thoughtful. While we never made it past 7 weeks, you could tell he was rooting for us and truly disappointed and sorry that things didn't work out for us. From the get go, we had already done a cycle of IVF without success (chemical and miscarriage of trisomy 13 at 6.5 weeks), he told us there were no medical reasons to not try again. We ended up with 9 CCS normal embryos. However, after 2 failed transfers (chemical and blighted ovum) he told us one of things wad happening. Despite my hysteroscopy and all labs/scans looking normal, my uterus wasn't a good environment or there was something behind chromosomes that is genetically wrong with the embryos. Our final transfer resulted in a pregnancy but miscarriage at 7 weeks. He was so kind during our D&C and told us he was always there for us. We still have 5 embryos and may some day decide to transfer them or pursue a gestational carrier, but are also at peace that Dr. Gustafson did everything in his power, knowledge, expertise to help us be parents.

Trust him. He will be honest with you. And like he told us on our first consultation he'll "tell you when to get off of the roller coaster". And he doesn't say that to be mean. He says it for your own sanity. He doesn't want to just take your money over and over if he doesn't think it will work.

He was personable, kind, honest. He'd remember things about us.

I honestly don't remember what protocol we used for egg retrieval. First FET e-set of day 5AA CCS normal blast. Lupron started when bcp stopped. Vivelle patches increasing. Endometrium, PIO and me from. 2nd FET added antihistamine protocol with aspirin, claritin, pepcid, and prednisone. 3rd FET antihistimine protocol and lovenox.

Not compassionate. Told me the gender of one of our embryos even though I explicitly told them I didn't want to know. Never caked me when my thyroid labs were abnormal, I called multiple times asking for the results. Not at all compassionate when I was worried about miscarrying based on those results. More concerned about setting up an appointment than giving me a minute after we did miscarry to process the information.

Overall CCRM has so many patients I can see where it feels like you're a number. However my personal doctor did not make me feel that way. Nursing staff wad terrible. Buildings themself clean. Lab people friendly. Usually fairly easy to make appointments

$22000 for egg retrieval, 1st transfer. $5000 for each subsequent FET Meds totaled probably $1000

First 2 transfers did e-SET then did embryos on 3rd transfer.

Dr. G is kind, compassionate, and knowledgable. He is very thorough when explaining what we have done, what we will do, what we can expect, and what will be next. He shows empathy and seems to really understand what a difficult journey this is for his patients and is very supportive. He remembers personal details I've shared about our family which helps to feel there is a true connection. He will ask about our son, our move, our vacation, etc. He always followed up with a phone call after our transfers and answered all questions we had. He makes us feel comfortable and safe. I trust him completely.

Believe in him. He has your best interest in mind.

Dr. G is very personable. He remembers my past medical history as well as personal details that I've shared. He always makes us feel comfortable. I've laughed and cried with him and he's always been supportive. He answers all my questions thoroughly and in a way I can understand. He gives the facts with great bedside manner.

After trying 5 IUI'S at another clinic we consulted with Dr. G. He had a thorough understanding of what we have tried and created a plan to move forward with IVF, stating we could try one more IUI but it was not likely to work. He recommended IVF with 50/50 ICSI and conventional fertilization. I don't know the name of the protocol but it seemed pretty straight forward. My body had not settled down from the stim meds after first retrieval for our planned fresh cycle so moved on to a frozen transfer. We transferred 2 embryos and successful delivered a singleton. 2 years later we transferred 2 more embryos using the same protocol for priming. This resulted in a chemical pregnancy. 5 months after that we transferred our lastv3 embryos with the same protocol and the addition of the antihistamine protocol to address the possibly reasoning for the chemical pregnancy. We had never had a chemical pregnancy or miscarriage before. This also resulted in a chemical pregnancy.

Our nurse was overall very good. She was generally compassionate. There was a period when the clinic was busy and undergoing changes that I believe was stressful for her as it showed in her interaction with us. She seemed annoyed at times, called me by the wrong name and just seemed busy and bothered. She did turn around after a bit of time. She is always quick to respond.

CCRM has a great laboratory that helps to yield good results, ie live births. They are pioneers of the field so you know you are getting great care. They are a big clinic so sometimes you can feel lost as a number. Some doctors dont have great bedside manner but ours did. They are more expensive then most clinics it seems. They have great hours which allows for flexibility. Many other clinics are not open on weekends.

We used the assure program for out first transfer and that cost $32k for up to 3 fresh and 3 frozen transfers or until a live birth. Consults and regroups cost $250. Frozen embryo transfers were about $6,000 without monitoring.

Prior to our first IVF it was explained that we could transfer 1 or 2 embryos and what the risks were when transferring multiples. We decided to transfer 2. Because I had such a strong inital beta it was thought I may have had twins but only one embryo implanted. Our 2nd transfer we also decided to transfer 2 based on doctor recommendation since we only had a singleton with the prior transfer. The 3rd transfer we also transferred 2 for the same reason. At first the doctor left the choice of 1-2 up to us but based on the results he then strongly recommend transferring 2 but still allowed it to be our choice.

Dr G made the experience as good as it could be. When questions came up, he took the time to talk through the pros and cons as well as offer any insight on his recommended course of action. He always took the time to make it feel like a conversation rather than us sitting back waiting for him to tell us what to do. Because of those reasons, we are continuing to work with him through another egg retrieval and would never consider working with another doctor through this journey!!

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Dr G does a great job giving as much or as little explanation as you would prefer.

Dr G had/has gone above and beyond to take time to work with us and make sure we do NOT feel like a number. He has scheduled conference calls with us since we have moved farther away and has always been there to answer our questions.

I don't remember a ton of the specifics after the long journey but I do often remember Dr G thoroughly explaining things. For example we had first planned to do a fresh embryo transfer but when that was not the best course, Dr G took the time to explain to us why and how we could best proceed from there. He also did a great job reassuring my wife after the miscarriages that it was nothing she did.

Most all of the nurses we have dealt with have all been fantastic and do a great job communicating.

The Louisville clinic does a great job making you feel welcome, it doesn't feel as clinicy as you might expect. Tara in ultrasound was also awesome to work with. It was nice to always see a smiling face whether it was for testing, a regroup or just bloodwork.

Dr G did a great job explaining the pros/cons of multiple embryo transfer versus single.

I am still blown away at how accessible Dr. Gustofson was. If I was in doubt about any detail or wanted to ask him a question directly, I could simply e-mail him, and he responded directly. I do not have this degree of access to any other doctor anywhere.

Go, just go. We lucked into him because I called CCRM, and they gave me his first available appointment. It was a perfect blessing. Be honest with him. He'll be honest back. When we had a communication snafu regarding the results of my husband's Hep C antibodies, the nurse called and didn't explain the situation very well, which led to lots of strife. Dr. Gustofson changed his entire protocol for notifying patients about communicable disease antibodies. He's not afraid to admit a problem and he's not afraid to solve problems, however small or large.

He remembered personal details about us, and he shared personal details about his own family and kids. We recommended him to friends, and we created a fun little circle of humans in the same struggle. I would hang out with him outside of CCRM.

Egg retrieval - I can't remember all the drugs FET1 - 1 embryo transferred, 1 live birth - same protocol generally as FET3 FET2 - 1 embryo transferred, chemical pregnancy - same protocol generally as FET3 FET3 - 2 embryos transferred, 2 pregnancies in progress - 21 days of birth control (7/20/18-8/11/18), lupron (10 units 8/7/18-8/29/18), vivelle patches every other day (starting 8/16/18), endometrium 100mg (starting 8/30/18), medal (8/30/18-9/2/18), doxycycline 100mg 2x daily (8/30/18 until gone), embryo transfer on 9/4/18

ou want more than a proficient doctor. You want your doctor supported by top-notch embryologists, high-knowledge nurses and clinicians, and a willing, helpful and thoughtful financial department. The support staff at CCRM is excellent. The embryologists and nurses are diligent and thoughtful and present a can-help attitude constantly. The attitude elsewhere was consistently “no, we don’t do that.” CCRM will find a solution to your problems. They will help you track down drugs through various or multiple pharmacies even if it’s annoying. The business office will answer all of your questions, help you find cost-effective strategies through various programs, and will make every effort to navigate insurance chaos on your behalf.

IVF is a complex process that involves more than doctors. We relied heavily on the embryologists, the nurses, and the business office. At every other clinic, the care was far less comprehensive and very disjointed. We sought care locally in Jacksonville at three clinics. Dissatisfied, we considered several clinics in New York and Los Angeles. After our initial call with CCRM, we were convinced to give it a whirl and went out for our 1-day consultation. Maybe the best decision of our marriage. We saw Dr. Gustofson at the Lone Tree office. While Denver is a fantastic city, the Lone Tree area is pretty generic, full of national chains and light on charm. We preferred to stay downtown or in Cherry Creek. For our first 1-day consultation, we stayed in Lone Tree for the convenience. For longer visits, enjoy the charm of Denver and make the daily drive to Lone Tree for your appointments. The clinic is 15 minutes from Cherry Creek. We were impressed and pleased at every turn. For our one-day consultation, we started out in the conference room with a group of couples from all over the country. We then ran through a series of appointments and tests, which concluded with a meeting with our doctor. That day will cover all of your questions. CCRM only accepts United for insurance. Otherwise, it's about $5,000 out of pocket. They do accept American Express now but didn't in 2016 when we first went to CCRM. You have to do this same initial work-up before the start of each new cycle. As an out-of-town patient, the most complicated aspect will be getting your local clinic to send the results in a timely manner. You'll have to get monitoring and blood drawn at a local clinic throughout the process. My biggest frustrations were getting my results to CCRM from labs and other clinics. You will likely have to be really pushy with your local clinics. It might create some awkward tension, especially since you aren't really going to them for medical advice, only asking them to take orders from CCRM. Make use of CCRM's portal for communication. It's much easier than trying to deal with the phone tree. You can always get to your nurse's line directly through her extension. I am still blown away at how accessible Dr. Gustofson is. If I was in doubt about any detail or want to ask him a question directly, I could simply e-mail him, and he responds directly. I do not have this degree of access to any other doctor anywhere.

retrieval: $9315 to CCRM, $15170 to labs (plus local monitoring) FET (per transfer, we did 3 transfers): $2630 to CCRM, $2815 to labs (plus local monitoring)

CCRM promotes strongly that singleton births are the new standard of IVF, per the journal articles written by Schoolcraft. We transferred 1 embryo with success and had out first child. We then transferred 1 embryo and had a chemical pregnancy. At that point, we then had 2 "normal" embryos remaining and 1 "no result" embryo remaining. We were feeling the sad desperation and pressure, and Dr. G. was understanding. Despite the fact that I was under 35 and that we had done CCS, he agreed to go against the recommendations to only transfer 1 in our situation. He agreed that transferring 2 would be okay as I didn't have complications in my first pregnancy and carried to full-term. He thoroughly explained the risks. We decided that we would do another retrieval if our next transfer failed because we were wary of transferring the "no result" embryo. We understood that we had a 42% chance of twins. We knew the risk. We are now excited about twins.

Dr G explained the process at every step. He was always patient and thorough. He explained exactly what he expected to happen the results he expected and always fully explained what he thought was had happened and what he would do about it. Very thorough and always made me feel like I was in the very best care possible.

Follow their instructions and recommendations. Ask a lot of questions, don't be shy but also trust them and what they recommend. Don't be afraid to ask him what he would do if the situation was reversed.

Dr. G never rushed me, took the time to answer all questions. Communicated directly with me. Even in their portal to ask nurses questions, he allows his patients to email him. I think he's still the only doctor at Lone Tree CCRM to do that. He was transparent and to the point, easy to understand but also kind at the same time.

I participated in the acai study; I religiously took the full vitamin cocktail they recommend (as did my husband). I took hcg, gonal F, follistem, menopur, noravel, saizen, cetrotide, lupron, vivelle, Endometrin, progrestrone

The staff is very good. There a lot of moving pieces in treatment that they need to organize and the emotions were high. I had confidence in the staff but sometimes they were hard to get a hold of and sensed the business.

Their approach is so technical yet felt specialized to me. I feel like their level of experience, research and knowledge is the best. I never felt like they were trying to achieve their success rates, I felt like they were trying to help me achieve my goal. At my previous clinic I felt like they wouldn't take any more chances with me because of their success rates. I felt like they gave up on me and CCRM said we can do this and they made our dreams come true.

the first round costs to CCRM were around $30K (doesn't include drugs) and the 2nd & 3rd rounds combined were about $25K. I only needed two rounds so they credited me for the third round.

based on success rates & data for my age and situation the recommendation was always to transfer one (depending on quality of embryo).

Dr. G was absolutely clear from day 1 on the positive and negative aspects of our situation and the probability that we would have success. We had to adjust our treatment calendar for every cycle - retrieval and transfer - and I believe Dr. G made the correct calls in every occasion, assessing my body and the specifics of our situation. We are from Brazil and at a 5 hour difference to Colorado, and Dr. G was responsive even in this scenario.

Dr. G was always extremely nice and attentive on all occasions we met and over the phone and e-mail. He was aware of all details surrounding treatment and our journey up until the point we started treatment with him.

Dr. G recommended that during two weeks I take supplements to improve egg quality before retrieval. This made a significant difference in my view. During stimming, he pushed forward the egg retrieval day by a couple of days and increased hormone dosage which I believe was the reason why I managed to get 22 eggs (much more than the 9 I had gotten in my 2 previous cycles). I feel the that the considerable number of eggs is why we were able to get blastocysts and CCS tested euploid embryos.

Gina my nurse was great and super compassionate. She unfortunately left CCRM, but by the end of my treatment.

I believe CCRM gets patients with difficult cases from all over the world, so they have seen it all - a big plus. I only met with Dr. G but have heard great things about the other doctors. I like their approach because they rely not only on the meds, but on supplements and alternative treatment like acupuncture.

I believe the IVF cycle was around USD 20 thousand.

Dr. G preferred transferring only 1 because my embryos were CCS tested, due to the risks of a multiple pregnancy. But after a failed FET he agreed on transferring 2, which is what I wanted. I will deliver my baby girl and boy next week.

Overall I found Dr. Gustofson very caring and I felt he really knew what he was doing. My only issue related to Dr. Gustofson was that he left town during a crucial part of my treatment (which I completely understand and don’t hold against him) but neither he nor his staff mentioned he would be leaving so it was offputting for me to find this out when I needed to ask him a question regarding treatment and he was gone.

He seems like a genuinely caring doctor.

I felt Dr. Gustofson was very warm and personable when I met or communicated with him but I had quite a bit of trouble with communication with other staff including nurses. I felt that at some pretty important times I had a hard time getting a response from the appropriate staff member. That said, Dr. Gustofson was really good with the communication.

Priming meds: Estrace 2mg - cycle day 2 on Testosterone gel - day 3-20 Prometrium 200mg - 2x day/ day 16-25 Testosterone patch 2mg - day 21-25 Cetrotide 0.25mg - day 23-25 Stim meds: Viagra 50mg 2x a day Menopur 150units 2x a day Gonal-F 300 units once a day Dexamethasone 0.5mg once a day Saizen 0.4ml once a day Clomid 100mg once a day (added when follicles were not growing enough and injections were switched to intramuscular instead of sub q)

I felt at times that Aiyana was very nice, organized and communicated well but there were times that I was very frustrated with the lack of comminication from her and almost requested to be switched to the care of another nurse.

I found most of the staff I encountered to be very nice and helpful, the facility itself was nice and I think that overall things run pretty smoothly with the day to day there. As a clinic I don’t think they have many weaknesses other than some of the staff did not seem great with communication some of the time.

We paid approx $25,000 for the IVF up front (this did not include the IVF meds or the full day work up we first had to do which I can’t remember the exact cost of but it wasn’t inexpensive). Because the cycle was cancelled we were refunded around $21,000.

For my age group he recommended one embryo be transferred at a time to reduce chances of multiples because of higher risk. I completely agreed with this approach.

We trust Dr. G as we would an old friend. He clearly stated expectations and our course of action with compassion and clarity. He listened to our concerns and questions and delicately give an explanation. His positive attitude paired with his expertise were exactly what my family needed each visit. I couldn't recommend a better doctor. We have the utmost respect for Dr. G and had the most positive experience we could have with medical care under the supervision of Dr. G.

You are fortunate to be in his care.

My entire family felt heard, valued, and understood. It was a medical experience we've seldom had elsewhere.

Chris was dedicated, energetic, knowledgeable, flexible, diligent, and a problem solver. Anytime I called, she would listen intently and immediately have a plan. After I "graduate" from the clinic, I always miss talking to her.

The entire staff is absolutely impeccable. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and have high standards of communication between patients and staff. Their precise and diligent. When multiple appointments are scheduled, they run seamlessly with little wait time in between. I always leave impressed with their professionalism, yet engaging personalities.

My insurance did not cover any of the cost of my initial IVF treatment, or my second transfer. Therefore, the cost was high, I'd prefer not to state specifics, but the cost CCRM gave at the beginning of the cycle is exactly what I paid. There were no hidden costs associated with my cycle. They were upfront with the cost.

Based on my age and health, Dr. G was incredibly clear that we should only transfer 1 embryo. I will forever be grateful for his guidance specifically on that subject. Due to his diligence, my son was born healthy and with no complications, and I am currently pregnant and hoping for the same outcome.

I actually referred a colleague to him and he was also great with her. He is honest, kind, and very aware of our specific struggles both emotionally and physically. He communicated exactly what I told him that I needed, and he was available if I ever needed him or his team. Very reliable.

He is very positive, and honest - be prepared for that. He wants you to succeed as much as you do.

There truly are no words to describe how appreciative we are of the Dr and his nurses/clinic for taking our case and trying everything without fear, and for it to end in success makes it even more special. They were so kind, reliable, and cared so genuinely throughout our process. Given my commute from CA, they were on it! My calendar was known weeks in advance and I only had to travel there 3 times, and they told me exactly what I needed to do via phone and email. Their honesty and positive attitude also went a long way with us.

Given I had multiple miscarriages and he had files form 2 prior doctors, he wasnt afraid to go full court press and have me take acai supplements, growth hormone, testosterone, along with the other usual injections. The lab at CCRM is amazing and very thorough.

AMAZING!!! They knew exactly what they were doing and ran that clinic more than the doctors did at times. They were reliable and very detail oriented.

The clinic is gorgeous, very operationally efficient, and everyone communicates very well to each other. They have orientation that answers all questions, have several areas where specific things are done (lab vs ultrasound, etc) and each section tells the other when they are done so that what could have been a long visit turns out to be very short. Although it may seem like a baby-making factory, it is highly efficient and they know exactly what they are doing. They even have the "extras" like acupuncture and massage etc.

Insurance didnt pay for anything so all was out of pocket and costs similar to other fertility clinics

He only allowed for us to transfer one to avoid twinning since that would cause a high risk pregnancy.

Dr. Gustofson was kind, available, honest, helpful, and sincere. We really cannot say enough about him or put into words just how grateful we are to have him as our doctor. If we had a question we were able to email him directly and he would always respond in a very timely manner. I do not hesitate to recommend him to anyone that is struggling with infertility.

If you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask, be honest, and trust him !

Dr Gustofson was very personable and made us feel at ease immediately. He answered all of our questions and was/is a very kind person. Infertility is so hard, but he gave us hope when we felt hopeless.

Dr G used protocol 5 for us. He had a plan like nothing we had ever thought possible and it definitely wasn’t a “one size fits all” like we had at our previous clinic. I don’t remember too many specifics. We primed with human growth hormone and both testosterone patches and gel. I was also taking viagra during my stimulation which included menopur and follistim.

Our nurse was excellent, as was anyone we spoke to or dealt with. They knew what they were doing and were organized. As a healthcare provider myself I always encourage my patients to always advocate for themselves. And I’m happy to say at CCRM they are SO on top of their game that rarely do you have to worry about that.

Strengths: VERY organized, best fertility lab in the world, honest, individualized care. I loved that this was only a fertility clinic and NOT an OB clinic as well. There is not much worse then having to sit next to a pregnant person while going to visit your fertility specialist. Infertility clinics and OB clinic‘s should never be in the same building as each other. Weaknesses: cannot think of anything.

One ivf cycle plus meds was about $35,000.

Dr. Gustofson brought the perfect balance of science and humanity. His bedside manner was just what a 7 year infertility patient whose lost hope in her body needs. He has a genuine love of life, people and a passion for what he does. His approach (as well as CCRM's) is super structured, extremely diligent which allows him to move through patient challenges and resolve them in an appropriate timeline. Within 1 day, we had all the answers we needed to correct our 7 year battle. Dr. Gustofson built a strategic plan that day and for 13 months we followed it diligently. We are currently 11 weeks pregnant. Our success is directly related to his knowledge, diligence and surgical skillset.

Trust him, no matter how much your hope has diminished. There is a reason he requires all the tests he does—they provide him immense knowledge and give him all the tools he needs to make the most educated plan for you. No matter what has happened in your past, trust that he will lead you down the right one.

After 7 years of infertility, Dr. Gustofson used the perfect balance of science and humanity to treat us. He spent time to get to know my body and both my husband and I. He never gave up or doubted my body's ability to do this even though maybe I had. He restored my faith that this body is capable of miracles.

When we met with Dr. Gustofson in May of 2017, he diagnosed us with a uterine infection (endometritis), a polyp and a septum (one that was supposidly removed 3 previous times). He created a plan that included—a 2 month treatment to remove inflammation and the infection, then a hysterscopy with septum resection, a follow-up in office hysterscopy to confirm the septum, infection and scar tissue were no longer, a mock cycle to test my responsiveness, a uterine biopsy (Beta 3 Integrins Test), another follow-up in office hysterscopy, a retrieval (midluteal oral estrogen priming antagonist protocol), another follow-up in office hysterscopy with endo scratch and FET (Blast, BCPs/Lupron/Suppository/P4 in Oil QOD. All procedures were smooth. The most important step we believe was the constant checking of my uterus to confirm what had been done to it, was in fact done and showing the intended results. As a patient who has a thin lining due to multiple D&Cs, this step was essential. I was told previously that I had Asherman's—Dr. Gustofson never mentioned he. He in fact, never was intimidated by my uterus. Baby step, by baby step, he treated it and scrubbed my uterus till it was in the most perfect state. We tested meds till we found the right ones. In fact, we almost did not transfer because there was fluid in my uterus (which had happened in the past) HOWEVER we did because he believed in it. He said the fluid was mucosa and would go away, if not, they'd suction. Well, transfer day is was gone. He was right, AGAIN and we are currently 11 weeks pregnant.

Nurse Sarah was thoughtful, diligent and the perfect match for my needs. She understand all that we had been through and was understanding when I needed a quick phone chat to run through details, again.

CCRM has mostly strengths—their super structured, diligent practice delivers results in a reasonable timeline. Infertility is not fast, it is not cheap. I don't believe one can go in thinking it is. CCRM handles the process as perfectly as one can.

We spent around 24k for retrieval & transfer with with CCS. This included all labs and scans for both. Not included was meds which were around 6k. We spent another 10k on surgeries and in-office hysterscopies. Our full day of tests cost around 4-5k. Travel was additional.

We transferred 1 very high quality embryo and it worked. Due to thin lining, we felt 1 was best.

I can't recommend Dr. G highly enough. I felt like he was 100% committed to getting and keeping me pregnant from the day we first met with him. He has a wonderful sense of humor and great bedside manner, both of which I knew I needed for this journey. That said, he always explains everything with solid data behind it, and really clearly described every step along the way so that we had a full understand of the treatment, risks, success rates etc. I also appreciated that he was honest with the success rates and only addressed live birth rates, since getting pregnant and having a miscarriage accomplishes nothing but heartbreak. We went through a very difficult period after the egg retrieval where my lining simply wouldn't get thick enough to transfer an embryo, despite every trick in the book. Dr. G never lost faith, and did an unusual protocol for me that they hardly ever do, but he was confident it would work in my situation. It did, and I'm now pregnant! I can't recommend him highly enough if you are just starting out, or have almost given up at other clinics. It is so important to have complete trust in the RE steering the ship for you.

Ask as many questions as you need to feel like you understand your treatment, success rates etc. He is incredibly patient and understanding. He and his wife went through fertility treatment, so I think he understands the anxieties more than most doctors. Another tip? If you're at a crossroads in your treatment, ask him what he would do in your situation if it was him/his wife. He'll give you the real honest answer which can sometimes be different than the doctor answer, and can be a valuable data point to help make your decision.

I always felt like a person, not a number with Dr. G, despite CCRM being a big clinic. He always had plenty of time to answer our questions, no matter how small or dumb they may have seemed, and also understood the emotional turmoil we were going through. He also treated us as a couple which made my husband and I feel more like a united front in our goal to start a family.

3 IUI's with increasing amounts of femera - all negative IVF with gonal-f, menapur, cetratide No trigger due to possible OHSS - I really appreciated this last minute change Fertilized with ICSI due to MFI Freeze all cycle so we could do CCS testing - 14 day 5 embryos After testing, 13 were normal (he advised against the testing due to my age of 31, we did it for piece of mind) 1st transfer attempt with estrogen priming - cancelled due to thin lining 2nd transfer attempt with increased estrogen, estrogen shots and viagra - proceed with 6.4mm very boarderline lining. Very tough call for both of us. Transferred 1 embryo and test was negative. 3rd transfer attempt - He said he was bringing out the "big guns" with completely different protocol called a Stim FET. I was on gonal-f and cetratide to stimulate my lining with my own estrogen, since my lining got to 8 during my egg retrieval cycle. He also had me do viagra again, and do the Antihistamine protocol of pregnisone, claritin and pepcid in case my immune system was rejecting the embryo. This doozy of meds got me to a 7.2mm lining, and we transferred two embryos. His recommendation was still to do one, but he was willing to do 2 at our request since the lining protocol was so tough for me, and we were ok with the prospect of twins. That cycle worked and I'm now 12 weeks with B/G twins!

I started off with a wonderful nurse named Melissa. Right after my first IVF FET transfered failed, she left very abruptly which felt like such a kick in the gut when I was down. Despite that, CCRM seamlessly helped me transition to Carolyn, who was equally as wonderful. She has been a fertility nurse for years and you could tell she knew exactly what she was doing. She was very willing to answer all my endless questions and always got back to me really quickly.

The strengths are their success rates, and the staff. Everyone from the receptionist, to the nurses, to the ultrasound techs, to our doctor, was amazing. I will say that absolutely get treated at the Lousiville office if you can - they definitely have a better nursing staff and a more friendly vibe than the Lone Tree office (you go there on weekends regardless). My one issue with CCRM was the billing department. They are REALLY BAD - we were all self pay, which makes things easy on their end without having to haggle with insurance. Despite that, there were a number of mistakes and issues, including charging us an extra $4k after a transfer for line items they forgot to charge us for. I have heard they have hired someone new to hopefully improve things, so just know that the billing side will be tough. The quality of the care far outweighs the frustrations with the billing however!

All in start to finish, we spent about $65k.

He very strongly pushes for eSET for the first transfer if your prognosis is good. The general rule at CCRM is two single transfers with CCS embryos, then doing a double transfer if both fail. In our case we were so wrecked after the first failure, and the drugs I had to take for each transfer attempt were essentially all the IVF stim meds (with the associated cost as well) that he didn't have a problem with our request to transfer 2 embryos on our second try. For reference, all our transfers were with CCS tested embryos. He was honest about the risks of multiples and the goal for one healthy baby. He's not interested in you "trying" for twins, and he's absolutely right. But, if you get to the point where its just not happening, he's absolutely willing to adjust course and put in more than 1.

I would highly recommend Dr. G. He was honest about the odds, but still could be very personable and warm. I never felt rushed and could always ask as many questions as I needed to feel comfortable. He was also very available via the clinic's portal and answered emails within 1 business day. There were also a few occasions when he called me to discuss my situation. I appreciated the personal touches. I would have no concerns about recommending him to anyone.

Always ask questions. He will share all of his knowledge and expertise.

Dr. G is a warm and caring individual and always made me feel like a human. It was his personality and affect that would help to soften the blow of bad news.

Being over 40 years old with no other challenges, he tried a typical protocol for retrieval. When I'd ovulated prior to retrieval, he switched up the protocol and monitored more closely to prevent premature ovulation. That second cycle didn't produce the desired amount of eggs. He'd then recommended embryo banking. The next two cycles were more successful given the changes he'd made to encourage more eggs. Unfortunately PGS testing revealed that age contributed negatively and all tested embryos were abnormal.

From the start, Monica was very helpful and a great support through my 4 cycles. She was very caring and understanding and great about answering my many questions. All was excellent with Monica until my embryos were sent for PGS testing. There was a snafu and lack of communication that most likely began with Monica. It was not resolved until I pushed and pushed. It caused many days of heartache and unnecessary stress.

The strength is the empathy and compassion that the majority of the staff have for their patients. Regardless of who I interacted with during my many visits over a year and a half, the staff were great. As challenging and emotional as this process can be, it's nice to have caring staff to work with. I also feel their counseling staff were amazing.

$60,000 for embryo banking plan (3 cycles) plus one FET

I appreciated that Dr. G was able to regroup after each cycle to come up with a game plan that worked for me.

Couldn't ask for a better provider for our journey. He is great in every way. I have no complaints about him as a provider. He is compassionate about what he does and wants to best possible outcome for his patients. Eases my anxiety about this journey and focuses on my needs for treatment.

He is great in every way. Explains things in a simple way. Great, funny, professional personality. Answers every question. I never felt like "just a number"

IUI x 3 with letrozole - 5 days at 5 mg. Injection of pregnyl or novarel for trigger. Several ultrasounds throughout. Follow up as needed depending on test results. 1-2 mature follicles for each round. Negative pregnancy tests x 3 but I responded well to the medications and changes he made along the way based on test results.

We were assigned to Melissa, who was the best nurse we could have asked for with this process. Unfortunately she quit after our third IUI.

Clinic itself is great. Answers every question in a timely manner. Is flexible with scheduling. Everyone is respectful. Their business office is difficult to work with. Impossible to contact over the phone. Leave messages and nobody calls back. When you use the patient portal to email them, it takes days to hear back. This makes it hard because finances are a huge part of this process and this can become very stressful, especially when you are already dealing with stress from treatments.

Our costs were affordable as my insurance covers 50% IUI, labs, other tests. It does not cover IVF so we won't be able to afford that.

NA

Dr Gustofson was very thorough and knowledgeable. You can tell he loves what he does and understands how emotionally draining the process is. We always felt comfortable and in good hands. We had 2 transfers that ended in miscarriage. As heartbreaking as that was, we never felt like Dr Gustofson was to blame. We’ve had several Doctors that we felt it was more about the money to them and we were just a number. We have never felt that way with him. He came highly recommended to me and I would recommend him to anyone looking for a fertility specialist.

If you’re ready to make the IVF jump, you can fully trust Dr Gustofson and his team. It’s a scary journey and you should feel confident in your Dr. You will find that with him.

Dr Gustofson is a very kind man who treated me and my husband like real people that he cares about.

I had a blood test that came back elevated in a certain area which meant my blood was too thick. So after each transfer I took daily injections of Lovenox to thin it out and prevent blood clots. With the 2nd transfer they did an antihistamine protocol which included a steroid, allergy med, and heartburn med. It is a protocol they follow if the first transfer was unsuccessful. After both miscarriages they had me come in for bloodwork and an ultrasound to make sure everything had passed and my hormone levels were returning to normal. With the first miscarriage Dr Gustofson said he thought it was a fluke and the embryo had a cardio or neurological problem. But after the second miscarriage he said he thinks there is something else besides the PCOS going on with my body and they need to do more testing. He doesn’t want to keep doing transfers when obviously something is wrong.

She is very thorough and if she isn’t sure on anything she asks the doctor and gets right back to me.

The office is very polite, professional, and respectful. The only issues I had was when I had to talk to someone after hours. The on call person doesn’t know you or you’re background info very well so they’re not very helpful. They just do the best they can.

Testing and bloodwork was covered under insurance. We only had to pay 5%of those costs. Each medication varied expense wise. Some were under $50 and others were a couple hundred dollars. In total they probably cost about $800. The egg retrevial, monitoring, and transfer were one payment of about 25,000. The second transfer was 6,500.

Dr. Gustafson is wonderful. He is extremely knowledgeable and makes you feel very comfortable. It is obvious that he truly wants success for you, and will do everything in his power to make that happen. Each time that I have met with him, I haven't felt rushed and I have felt like he allowed me to get all of my questions answered no matter how long it took. He always takes notes and provides the notes to me in the end. That way if I forget something that he said, I can look back at the notes. He also gives you his honest opinion every time without sugar coating anything, but does so in a compassionate manner. I could not be happier with my experience with Dr. Gustafson so far.

Seeing a doctor who truly cares about you and your treatment like Dr. Gustafson does is worth every penny.

Dr. Gustafson is very compassionate. He takes the time to make sure that you are comfortable with the treatment plan and takes the time to address any questions that you have. He really goes above and beyond for his patients to help them through the difficult process of trying to conceive. He and his wife have been through IVF, so he knows first hand what you are going through.

I am still in the workup stage of an IVF cycle with Dr. Gustafson. He has told me that once I begin the IVF cycle, he will be doing an antagonist protocol with ICSI and CCS.

Our nurse, Annalise, is extremely compassionate and really goes above and beyond for you. The other members of the nursing team have also been great. This clinic truly choses the best of the best in nurses. Their patients are experiences a very difficult and emotional process and it is extremely important for them to have compassionate nurses.

This clinic is considered one of the best in the country with high success rates, extremely knowlegable staff and doctors, and state of the art clinics and equipment. This also comes with a high price tag. One weakness of this clinic are it's costs for services. They seem to be much higher in cost than other clinics but I truly believe that you get what you pay for. Another weakness I feel is that their costs are or clearly outlined so that you know exactly what you will be paying ahead of time and it doesn't seem like they try to save you money by not doing treatments that aren't completely necessary. This clinic has so many strengths. They are extremely organized and knowledgeable and you are treated with so much respect and compassion.

The totally costs for my treatment are expected to be around $28,000.

Dr. Gustofson typically uses eSET but will do a transfer of two embryos on some occasions.

Dr. Gustofson was always available for us when we had a question or needed to make a last minute appointment. He performed my egg retrieval even though he was not the doctor scheduled to do retrievals that day. He knew I was nervous and far from home and it meant the world to us that he took the time out of his busy day! I had fibroid surgery with Dr. Gustofson in-between the egg retrieval and transfer and he was able to do it laparoscopically which allowed me to heal much faster than a standard myomectomy procedure would. I had a successful transfer 6 weeks later! I really appreciate that he personally calls his patients, even if it's not good news. He is always understanding and sympathetic. We had a wonderful experience with Dr. Gustofson and I would always recommend him to anyone who is in need of fertility services. He is the absolute greatest doctor and I have my sweet little family because of him!

Don't be afraid to ask him questions. He answers all questions no matter how insignificant or difficult/embarrassing the subject may be.

Dr. Gustofson really does care for his patients. He is always accessible to his patients through the portal system, which is so comforting. No question goes unanswered! He shared some of his personal stories of infertility with my husband and I which made us feel normal and not so alone in this fertility journey. When I expressed concerns over some nursing issues, he personally found a nurse on his team that would work closely with me.

I don't remember exactly which protocol I was on, although he did tell us this information. We got exactly the results he predicted - 5 CCS tested normal embryos. He prescribed the exact amount of stim meds I ended up using so we didn't waste any money on extra meds which was extremely helpful. He was concerned my estrogen level was high and he kept a close eye making sure I did not overstimulate.

Our first IVF cycle with CCRM, we had the same nurse throughout the entire length of treatment and she was absolutely wonderful. When we went back a year and a half later to have a second child, we had difficulty with the nurses leaving and we were reassigned a new nurse several times. I had some trouble getting nursing staff to return calls.

CCRM was very helpful and accommodating to their out of state patients. We went to a dinner at CCRM with other out of state patients and had a wonderful time. I think it is so nice that they offer this and it certainly helps their patients feel more at home during their treatment. We never had to wait very long and the nurses and ultrasound technicians were always very professional and helpful. I always felt like we were in a really good place where we were being taken care of in the most professional and caring way.

The cost of treatment was discussed with us and we never incurred any additional costs other than what was agreed upon in the beginning.

We were very thankful that he recommended only using one embryo per transfer as we did not want twins.

For someone who is super type A and who was used to being successful at everything, and who had never had a cramp or mood swing, and who was terrified of needles, IVF was a daunting process. Dr. G was what made this experience not only bearable, but successful. At our previous clinic, I rarely saw the doc, was not able to reach him, and felt lost in the shuffle. Dr G took time to get to know my husband and I, how much information we needed to feel comfortable without being overwhelmed, was honest about the risks and side effects of certain medications, and seemed to truly understand how stressful the process was. When I didn’t respond as expected to certain meds, he was compassionate but straightforward and adjusted appropriately. We credit Dr G with our beautiful little girl, and have referred 3 friends all whine have success stories to now share. Don’t be fooled by the bad haircut- Dr G is top notch!

Ignore the rotating cycle of nurses- Dr G is worth it

CCRM can feel like a machine- but Dr G took that away. He knew my personal history without having to reference my chart, learned what was important to me, have me as much detail as I wanted/ needed, always answered questions promptly, and made an individualized plan based on my concerns

This is CCRM’s weakness- the nursing staff seems to be constantly changing. I had some great experiences with nurses who were kind, compassionate and took a personal interest, and 2 awful nurses who didn’t seem to be familiar with my chart/ meds, didn’t understand the urgency of getting results re lab tests prior to pharmacy closing, and did not apologize for errors or stress they created.

Ccrm is a machine- but a well oiled machine. They know what they are doing and have the numbers to prove it. The Louisville and Denver offices offer a much more personalized experience and it is less overwhelming- lone tree is huge and you never see the same nurse twice and the receptionists are cold and not hugely helpful. But, it was still very smoothly running and efficient. They do have amazing counselors and a great support group which was a huge help during this long process.

In 2015/2016, our two retrieval’s and 1 transfer ended up costing around $65,000 (including meds and genetic testing). Shopping around for meds can make a huge difference in how much you spend and didn’t realize that for cycle #1

I was glad Dr G was honest with our chances for success, but also honest about the health risk to myself and any potential baby if we transferred more than 1

Dr. Gustofson was my favorite doctor to have while going through fertility and IVF treatments. He was able to explain to us what was going on and what he thought would be the best course of treatment for us. He was always understanding to what we were going through and always let us know the benefits vs. risks for each procedure. I always felt a lot of hope from Dr. Gustofson and knew he was telling me what he truly believed and giving us his honest opinion. When a treatment failed, he was always empathetic and knew what we were going through, and encouraged us to stay hopeful and keep moving forward. I can't thank him enough for everything he did to help us have our child and wouldn't have wanted any other doctor.

I would advise a prospective patient of Dr. Gustofson to ask as many questions as possible and ask him to explain anything that might seem confusing. He's always willing to explain more or give his personal perspective on treatment options.

I felt like a human because Dr. Gustofson made us and our fertility journey feel important. I felt like he was trying to help us as best as he possibly could to reach our dreams of having a child.

The nurses that I worked with and all the staff were very friendly and helpful in explaining procedures and treatment schedules to me. They were always very organized and helped me to understand every step of the treatment I would go through. They were kind and compassionate when things didn't go as planned and encouraged me in moving forward.

I think CCRM has some of the best doctors in the world for fertility treatments. Their embryologists are highly rated and some of the best in the business. I always felt like I was getting top of the line treatment there. The only weakness was their billing department and figuring how treatments were billed and what insurance would cover. We had a lot of back and forth conversations with billing on what we owed and why.

Total IVF treatment costs were around $15,000.

For our first FET, Dr. Gustofson recomment we just transfer one embryo because he was very certain we would get pregnant and wanted to avoid us having multiples. When we miscarried after that FET, he allowed us to transfer two embryos for our next FET. He was understanding to our certain situation, although he always recommends going with just one embryo.

From the moment we walked into CCRM we felt like we were finally in the right place. He was excellent at answering all questions we had and also gave us hope. He did not make promises he could not keep, he did not sugar coat anything but he communicated in such a friendly and caring way. He is excellent.

If you openly communicate what you would like, whether it is changes in plan or choices he will be open to this and he is excellent at receiving feedback.

Dr. Gustofson is so personable, he has excellent bed side manner, I feel he truly cares about outcomes.

For our first cycle we used high dose medications, menopur/gonal-f, clomid, omnitrope, ganirelix, and viagra. We got 4 follicles more than we ever had before. This cycle I asked if we could adjust to less medications and do "mini-stim" and he was open to this.

All of the staff at CCRM is amazing. We always feel everyone is looking out for us and we both (my husband and I) do not feel like cattle be herding through. We do not feel like a number here. It is an excellent place.

The clinic has a reputation for an excellent lab. The clinic also has support services, like counseling. We used this service when we first arrived to CCRM from another clinic with a horrific experience. The last place was so traumatizing it made us scared to move forward. The counselor was wonderful and helped us communicate our fears and concerns and gave us excellent resources.

The cost of ER was around 12,000. The cost for embryology department was around 5,000. This is a rough estimate. They did give us a discount for being active duty military.

We have not got to the point of transfer so I can not say.

Dr. Gustofson is always smiling. He was always patient and took time to answer all my questions. I never felt rushed. Dr. Gustofson does not speak down to you or try to dumb things down - he’ll answer your questions scientifically and wait for additional questions. For me, this gave me a great deal of confidence in his knowledge and experience. His bedside manner is second to none. He is calming and kind at all times. If I had to include a weakness, it would be his support (and maybe experience) with complementary practices such as acupuncture, reiki and yoga. I’m a yoga instructor so I may be a bit biased, but I think meditation and fertility yoga should be more highly emphasized. But otherwise, Dr. G was the best I could have asked for.

Feel free to come up with, and ask, as many questions as you need to. He will never make you feel dumb for asking or rushed out of his office.

Dr. Gustofson was always friendly and kind and spent as much time as needed to answer all our questions. He remembered previous conversations months later and you always felt like he cared. His wife also went through similar treatment and this makes him very relatable and vice versa.

Microflare protocol with patches. Estrace Testosterone Provera Lupron Saizen Menopur Gonal-F Increased egg production since I had low ovarian reserve and low follicle count.

I had an amazing primary care nurse named Lesley but she left to another job. Then I got another nurse named Joanna who was a terrible communicator, not organized at all and made me feel very nervous that things were being missed. I requested that my doc assign me a different primary care nurse. I was assigned to another (who then left) and finally to Kathryn who was great. He nursing team works very cooperatively and I would often get calls from other nurses but didn’t mind at all. The one thing that could be improved is that each nurse only works 4 days a week, so if you have an emergency on their day off, it’s a little nerve-wracking, even though one of the other nurses will call you back with answers... it would still be nice to have access to your primary are nurse at least 5 days a week.

It’s a beautiful clinic and they’re quite professional and friendly. Strengths are expertise and quality. Weaknesses are providing all information effectively. The docs are great at communicating, but sometimes I felt the nurses and front desk staff didn’t explain things clearly. Or would point to this tiny font at the bottom of a page somewhere and say “Oh that info is right here. You didn’t see it?” Meanwhile you’re hopped up on fertility drugs and just trying to make it through the day. So perhaps empathy is also a bit of an issue with front desk staff and nursing staff. But all in all, a positive experience and I always had confidence that I was getting the best treatment possible in the world.

Pricey

Dr. G was amazing. Being a health care professional, it was very important to me to have the best and he was. He never rushed us through an appointment, made sure we understood everything, he was always free for questions and quick to respond via the patient portal. He was caring, compassionate, empathetic, incredibly smart and a great problem solver.

Just to make sure to double check if you are not sure about something or if something doesn’t sound right. Sometimes there is a break down in communication between the doctors and the doctors and nurses.

Dr. G evaluated all of our tests individually, determined a plan specific to our needs and did our transfer when my body was ready. It wasn’t a one size fits all plan. He was always available for questions and never made you feel like you were a burden. He always made sure you understood each step of the way. He was caring and compassionate and very calming and reassuring.

For stim-estrace, cetrotide, menopur, gonal-f, saizen, dexamethsone with pregnyl for trigger. For FET-vivelle, endometrin, progesterone and antihistamine protocol. I did not use BCP or lupron because I kept ovulating through both.

My primary nurse was great. She was compassionate, understanding, returned calls same day. I had issues however, with miscommunication between her and the other nurses when she was gone. I also had an issue where the doctor gave me a new protocol and she gave me a different one than he wanted. If I wouldn’t have questioned it, I would have been on the wrong FET protocol.

I would say the clinic overall is amazing, especially compared to the clinic I was previously at. They are all very nice, helpful and caring. The clinic seems to be a well oiled machine. The only issues I had were miscommunication between the doctors and the doctors and nurses. In addition to the protocol mix up and the miscommunication between my normal nurse and someone filling in for her, there was also miscommunication between the doctors. I was suppose to have a polp removed during my egg retrieval, but the day of my retrieval fell on a day where Dr. G was not in and another doctor did my retrieval and she said she did not see the polyp and it was not removed. I then had to go back again and have it removed later without anesthesia and had to pay again to have it done.

We paid $5000 for our one day work up, $26,000 for the IVF, $12,000 for meds.

Due to my age and quality of embryos, we decided to just do one embryo.

I answered this question previously Strengths: excellent communicator - patiently answered all our questions to ensure that we were comfortable about the IVF process. Even gave us his direct email address/direct line and promptly responded when required. Warm/honest demeanor - was sensitive and direct at the same time to our IVF journey. Called us directly when we miscarried and when we tested positive for pregnancy. Congratulated us on our successful twins. professional at all times. The best doctor I ever had.

Trust him - he knows what he is doing.

Dr. G has a wonderful bedside manner. He is friendly, honest about our probability to get pregnant, willing to take the time to ensure we understood the process, answered all our questions in layman terms, and gave us his direct line/email address if we had any questions. He was always prompt getting back to us. Couldn't ask for a better doctor

I had a thin uterus lining issue and after the standard protocol hadn't worked, we agreed that an aggressive drug protocol was required. Even after this recommendation we couldn't get my lining up to the standard acceptable thickness. Dr G. discussed our options, probability of success and we all decided on how to proceed.